Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4gs2D44ym
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbafQrJf9uS
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yXQ9Z0oy2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDEUE74Sr7
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpo3IJTyWG
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DklAqsoJS
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvS1Cbe8JS
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9uRK9hsAv
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtx1M3UDCY
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUv2VC3gHt
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXLplYvFWM
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6SONzhRBd
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx8wfQbcx2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMYoVRiQjN
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuUo2yeXdS
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGifUGyA9Z
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMKNnUa1sn
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdu2vu27zq
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJyc1PYyIi
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTywWyYrL3
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF1pljMfAX
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGMC2ZHoIl
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwYTXKP6Fd
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvH8E2mP0a
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykmdEznSeq
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9DTuJo7ih
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7YGKu7exx
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Soc2oXaUb
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvcuEwYNwm
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUDTax5cX0
[Transition]573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQbwKVwxBh
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozolXB6BIS
You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomuZdsLw5k
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMrxKtADKL
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4V8Tijv8P
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY8C75JpuK
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCAtR6VzOt
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCbm9V3yvE
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5T3mfVMOF
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTMJzkNrWO
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNi5GgEzYR
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyYN9sPg9Z
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOoaxspRN8
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPON5xsHwR
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JAkfxvY9X
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWREfP70qw
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlPNJEYV2t
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiAagQArdV
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVi5U1qRAM
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOJ9BVpCBp
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwqnoFqopg
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Is7yosT5
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV62gT54hvv
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex3ZTdoF4Q
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9PwCXbDGT
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y759eZlLk
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wi9OjmmdU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbmL6XTNnP
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aJy2YoyU0
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaHyBKDnCW
[Transition]573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd8iMD3JMw
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfRnCbYX77
You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ0nPUmUkl
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx6yPWYcRV
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu62Ic1vXIc
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34FM6unsEY
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECILVM49YU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSRLo2MmkW
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrc98xUtPI
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc2lrnN5BJ
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0kosqyJho
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1l0wd2oh6
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuNHHfvyjH
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEjfMEErhr
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL7te0QdVV
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPfWVW1XUP
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfbzerpaMi
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sf7GCACnw
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37whrDLbed
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUkcIGehna
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH1SlMdjai
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWS6UJNhk0
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93ADVsCKFw
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZxvdUlgIp
[Transition]573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYYIR9EOFl
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF5bzyEjpO
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZgIaR39DD
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXHOFhX3Z3
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHrLwHgO4d
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj3wAsZTEg
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EF8QsD5TQ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qcEwol89T
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5dQq2stMi
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV56aJA4eTI
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOi7NayRWm
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKC6aptILp
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzciSK9oy5d
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl5Fl2Fgjl
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW0TR7maTY
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P4MMM1Iqx
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR7otfgPbp
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsAOzL6OSH
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdCnVCGHyu
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd2XjSlczw
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA17I03JRIf
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQpWQkHbnB
Shin-woo: Need some help?573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYRdcGxoBi
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Bpy2GYCZP
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrfUEubIAt
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVf6VY6NkR
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfQmJT8wr8
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1YOQGR0rw
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLifq7sYH2k
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrbkpjoUsM
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsUSbEXjNX
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxAsXG1RgZ
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu3lMbPiZW
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz288zDtRE
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1cU3piLB6
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrEo2vgqmh
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DkvdpLINB
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMz29vK2EA
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16jVsIThoN
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiYd0Mw4Rw
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXGQEn7o7g
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygBOe2JOA1
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfjiZ7Kp67
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVt5FV9V5w
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj4nc5UuHu
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUkV5tMhxO
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3BkepXNIg
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E9VSuEynd
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCacyD2Ibo2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXAbYd3PyB
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbrTczpVF9
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QFEPzwCqz
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKabIWmd3nM
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fjBDlrCHM
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqdkg7eu9V
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhgoTzMpbH
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULRdPs1gIb
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QrzzvCthl
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2ICvME5VB
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSPI1ERYd9
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD717E4nkQ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RhaQ3kEo5
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJmp6fyrMO
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDFoQd0DNc
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJIEYRUFm5
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ojpf0n5hS
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKt3E5Lv5D
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLI1tkZ4S3
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbvmk7pLBk
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJOONVlHmO
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rYuHHCWkd
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMGYBxQt5t
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWIGxU3wtI
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDnIwKPDAT
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINHIzplAbw
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxxk4bqWwK
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMAkWHVS6B
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb1thkAo0h
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpNEpBEDSB
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseCh0h0JLq
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgdAWJbwfs
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaWOswMt8g
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdLC6VXSHQ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ1zmM8bZ3
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4pnCZ2S1s
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sjO5xHFj3
[Transition]573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefND0hpSUs
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu1bjCYcsc
It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvVnFGNPRm
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihN5DN6p19
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBjkYiv6G7
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxCRSyvMm1
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVULnhjjYu
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9LKibnI7g
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FSlSeXFC3
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc86llCLUk3
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkd0uTLwx9
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d0qoEaJe2
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9wFiQ7b4q
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Uito8rfdK
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIBPRsb3yI
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxBDYAFiZU
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQuZZKVXxP
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuI7LMpmab
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8XWINWVl5
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXKoWDvwwb
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YPB1pzyPh
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNxxwcXjzD
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpcDVeueY3
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpE6sGZtmv
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJtJwCen1b
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaHBlkyW7p
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5EWjbWroo
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw3EQtzrSx
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbSMeSc4u9
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLlaOcroo5
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4zYjuHISw
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSAQSO6Cjj
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e4m2rNYak
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6MzzJ2YST
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KItstrFrC
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRRPxgvbUt
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo3LqGj3m1
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDRfhXHUCQ
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQb3l9M1N7
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOvPkaycwA
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxLEX2f3FZ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wgLfaQ3K7
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsATNJRNvU
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq8ucyy9mL
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOcI30ymKo
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKSqVOw7u2
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO7cvFgL0W
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoL2fHollr
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51SO52CsMf
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDQI71fPXn
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH32mYTXoz
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaslrFQyID
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjS7TZYZCm
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ5EdxbKWb
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ieYJ5BrTv
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla0vhCxKlj
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQIkSB0IFf
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7KtoEhFSQ
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2eqGg4urm
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgnINeNsUr
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNAQrSXDSA
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cbQ4wauJm
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsfv20I7jx
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4PPcHlsUE
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlfrXCONaP
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05VExcYhVw
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3W9ZiLgqX
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RMRQX60om
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H6JHKUdNO
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkTGCGBA4C
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlc2JTVk7j
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzjqjVr1ec
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvK81FrfUr
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfp9sc83p4
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH6X82N0Ps
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGfyz6dL7Z
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tiZFKAPnu
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIut0Y2SF3q
573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60Bc31AC4J
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
and then Add to home screen.